Fluid-heater.



L. D. LO VEKIN.

FLUID HEATER.

APPLICATION rum) H0123, 100a.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

' "WEI! R E El ' JTTOIUIEY.

LUTHER D. LOVEKIN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application filed November 23, 1908. Serial No. 463,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER D. LOVEKIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fluid-Heaters, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The present invention relates to apparatus for heating fluids and particularly to apparatus comprising one or more heating devices, of that type in which the heating space for the fluid to be heated is formed in whole or in part between the inner wall of an internally threaded tubular member and the outer wall. of an internal member formed with a thread on its external surface, whereby a corrugated space is provided between the two members which may be made as shallow as is desired, while at the same time the two members may be assembled by threading them together. This type of heater, while novel with me, is not broadly claimed herein, as it forms the subject matter of my prior co-pending ap lication Serial Number 401,231, filed Novenfi er 8th, 1907.

One object of the present invention is to provide a heater in which a plurality of heating units, each in the form of a device of the general type referred to above, are assembled to form a simple, effective and compact fluid heating apparatus and to provide a construction of the heating units which will facilitate their proper assemblage in such apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to improve the mechanical construction of the heating units and particularly to provide an effective construction of the heating units wherein the end portions of the two wall members threaded together may be readily connected together and disconnected, and when disconnected at their ends, the two members may be readily threaded apart to permit inspection, cleaning or repairs.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with articularity in the claims annexed to and orming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which I have illustrated one form in which the invention may be embodied.

()f the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a heating apparatus employing a plurality of heating units. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation in the heating apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale of one of the heating units.

The construction of the heating unit shown best in Fig. 3 will first be referred to. This unit as a whole is designated by the symbol 17 and comprises inner and outer tubular members A and B respectively. The body portion of the member A is spirally corrugated so that a spiral rib A and a spiral groove A are formed on its outer surface. The body portion of the member B is similarly corrugated so that a spiral rib B and a spiral groove B are formed on its inner surface. The members are preferably proportioned as shown so that the ribs A and B overlap when the two membersare assembled, and these members are assembled and disassembled by threading them together and apart. The member A has an upper end portion O which is uncorrugated and comprises an enlarged portion C which fills the opening E formed in the upper end portion E of the member B, and above the portion C is a still larger portion C adapted to be clamped against the shoulder E of the end portion E to thereby make a tight joint by means of a cap member G, which is threaded at E to the end ortion E. The member A is also provided with an uncorrugated lower end portion D formed with a collar D adapted to bear endwise against the shoulder or seat F pro.- vided on the inside of the lower end portion F of the member B, and formed below the collar D with a reduced portion D which passes through the opening F in the lower end portion F of the member B. The reduced portion D is threaded at D to receive the clamping nut H which abuts against the lower end of the end portion F and draws the parts together to make a tight joint between the collar D and the shoulder F The end portion E is provided with a hollow boss communicatin with the space between the members A and B and provided with a threaded orifice E for a pipe connection. The lower end portion F is provided with a similar boss F, tapped at F for a pipe con nection.

"mum's It will be observed that in the construction illustrated the internal diameter of the member B above the corrugated portion of the member is greater than the maximum diameter of the threaded portion of the member and that the maximum external diameter of the lower end portion 1) of the member A is less than the internal diameter of the threaded portion of the member 1). ln consequence of this arrangement when the cap member (l and the nut II are removed, the member A may be readily threaded into and out of the member B, and it is also apparent that tight joints may be readily procured be tween. the end portions of the members A. and B by tightly screwing the members (i and H in place. hen necessary, the corrugated portions of the members A and B may be positively spaced apart as by drops K of solder affixed to the crown of rib -1 at intervals. This, of course, does not interfere with the operation of threading the members A and B together or apart.

The heating unit described in detail above is capable of use in many different relations and is particularly adapted for use in heating apparatus such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The particular apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is especially designed for use in heating water, oil, or other liquid, by low pressure or exhaust steam. in this form of apparatus there are a plurality of units 17 mounted within a casing, comprising a cylindrical body portion 1 and top and bottom dome like end portions 2 and respectively. In the construction shown, the end portions 2 and 3 are formed each in halves adapted to be clamped together by bolts 4 and each end portion may be secured against the corresponding end of the cylindrical casing portion 1 by bolts 5. 6 represents the supply or inlet pipe for conveying exhaust steam to the interior of the casing, and 7 the waste or escape pipe for the used steam or water of condensation. The units 17 are supported by a plate or spider 11 clamped between the casing members l and 3 and provided with openings in which the reduced portions F of the units are passed, the reduced portions F being threaded at F to receive the clamping nuts I which secure the units to the plate 11. The upper ends of the section 17 pass through openings formed for the purpose in a plate or spider 10 secured between casing portions 1 and 2, which is designed to hold the upper ends of the units 17 in alinement, while not interfering with the expansion and contraction of the units. Pipe connections comprising pipe sections 15, unions 16 and pipe sections 14: connect orifices E of the units 17 with correspondin passages 81 of the heated fluid outlet pipe 8, which passes through a stuffing box 12 provided at the upper end of the dome 2, thc stuffing box serving to prevent leakage, while at the same time permitting, the pipe 8 to move through it as the members expand and com tract. Similarly, the orilices F are coirnected by pipe sections to, unions 16 and. pipe sections 14 with corresponding pas sages til formed at the upper end of the inlet pipe 9 which passes through a stuffing box 13 formed in the lowermost portion of the member B. As indicated before, the exhaust steam or other heating fluid is admitted through pipe 6 and passes out through pipe 7, and the Water, oil or other liquid to be heated is admitted to the space between the members A and B of the various units 17 from pipe 9 through the passages 91 and connections leading therefrom to the orifices I of the unit 17. The heated tluid passes from the units 17 through orifices l) to the passages 81 of the outlet pipe 5; through the intermediate pipe connccticns. The guide and supporting plates 10 and 11 are cut away so that there can be a free circulation of steam throughout the interior of the casing and through the members A of the unit 17, which are open at both sides. In consequence a very rapid tansfer of heat takes place between the fluid passing through the spaces between the members A and B of the units 17 and the fluid which fills the members A and surrounds the members B of the units. As each of the members A and B is exposed on one side to the fluid heated and on the other to the heating fluid and owing to the corrugation of the members A and B the exposed surfaces may be very large relative to the volume of the space between the members A and B, a very rapid transfer of heat between the two fluids takes place and this results in efficient operation and in a great economy in space and material in order to obtain a given heating effect.

The construction of the heating apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is simple and effective. Among the advantages possessed by it, owing to its mechanical construction, may be mentioned the fact that either of the end sections 2 or 3 of the casing may be disconnected from the body member 1 and slid along the corresponding sections 8 or 9 to permit the pipe connections 14, 15 and 16 from any or all of the units 17 to be adjusted and this without disturbing the steam connection to the inclosing casing, and that the whole device may be readily taken apart for inspection, cleaning or repairs and to be reassembled easily and expeditiously when necessary.

While I designate the apparatus claimed as heating apparatus, it is apparent that the apparatus really serves as a means for transferring heat from a fluid of higher temperature to one of lower temperature and that the apparatus can be used as Well where the ultimate purpose of its use is to reduce the temperature of the fluid of higher temperature as where the purpose is to raise the ten'iperature ot' the fluid of lower temperature.

Having described my intention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A fluid heater comprising a casing and connections adapted to permit the circulation of a heating fluid through said casing, a plurality of units located in said casing, each unit comprising a pair of tubular members arranged one within the other, connected together at their ends. inlet and outlet connections to the opposite ends of the spaces between the inner and outer tubular members of the units, each of said connections comprising a pipe passing through the wall of said casing, and connections within the casing between the pipe and each of said units of the latter.

2. A fluid heater comprising a casing and connections adapted to permit the circulation of a heating fluid through the casing, a plurality of heating units located within said casing and each formed of an open ended tubular member, and a tubular menr ber surrounding said open ended tubular member and connected thereto at the ends but separated therefrom between its ends to provide a shallow fluid receiving space between the inner and outer members and a pipe extending through the wall of said casing and located out of line with said units and connections within the casing between each unit and one end of the latter and said pipe, a second pipe ezqitending through the wall of the vasing and also out of line with said units and connections within the casing between the opposite end from that before mentioned of each unit and said pipe, said pipes and connections being adapted to form part of a system for circulating fluid through said shallow spaces of said units.

3. In a fluid heater, a casing composed of a body portion and end portions, a spider secured between the body portion and one end portion, a plurality of heating units supported by said spider within the casing and each formed of inner and outer tubular members, between which a space is provided for the fluid to be heated, and pipe to said spaces leading through the end portions of said casing, and pipe connections to the casing for permitting the circulation of a heat ing fluid through the casing.

4. In a fluid heater, a casing comprising a cylindrical body portion and end portions, :1 pair of heating unit supporting devices between the ends of the body portion and the end portions of the casing and a plurality of heating units supported thereby, each heating unit comprising a pair of tubular members arranged one within the other and formed to provide between them a space for the fluid to be heated, pipe connections leadiing to said spaces through the end portions of said casing, and means for causing the circulation of a heating fluid through said casing.

53. in a fluid heater, a casing, a. plurality of heating units arranged therein and each c'umisting of an inner and outer corrugated tube tlzrea led together and pro )ortioned to provide a heating space between said members, a pipe connected to said spaces adjacent one end of each member, another pipe connected to said spaces adjacent the opposite end cl each member, said casing being provided with stulting boxes through which said pipes pass.

t). In a fluid heater, a casing comprising a cylindrical body portion 1, and end portions 2 and It, spiders 1t) and 11 secured between the end portions and 3 and the body porticn l, a plurality of heating units arramged within the casing with their axes parallel to the axis of the body portion of the casing, said heating units being anchored to the spider 11 and being slidingly guided by the spider 10, each of said heating units comprising a pair of tubular corrugated members one threaded within the other and formed to provide a heating space between the members, a pipe connection passing through the end portion 2 and connected to the spaces between said tubular members at the adjacent ends of the heating units, a similar pipe passing through the casing end portion 3 and being connected to the adjacent ends of the spaces between said tubular members, and a pipe connection to the body portion of said casing for admitting steam into the casing, and an escape pipe for the steam and 'ater of condensation also leading from the casing.

7. in a fluid heater, a casing comprising a body portion 1 and end portions 2 and 3, said end portions being each provided with a cent ally arranged stufiing box, a plurality of heating units arranged within the easing and each formed of a pair of spirally corrugated tubular members threaded together and connected together at their ends and so proportioned as to provide a space between them for the fluid to be heated, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe passing through said stutting boxes, branch connections from the inner end of each of said pipes to the adjacent ends of the spaces between said tubular members, and pipe connections to the casing to permit the circulation of a heating fluid through the casing.

8. A fluid heater comprising an externally threaded internal member and an internally threaded external member into which the internal member is screwed, said members being spaced apart to form between them a space for the fluid to be heated, and means for detachably securing the end portions of the two IIIQIl'lbQlS together to close said heating space at its ends, said members being formed so that the internal diameter of one end portion of the external member is greater than the maximum diameter of the threaded portion of the internal member and the opposite end portion of the internal member is of less external diameter than the minimum internal diameter of the threaded portion of the external member, whereby they may be readily assembled together and disassembleda 9. A fluid heater comprising an externally threaded internal member and an internally threaded external member into which the internal member is screwed, said members being spaced apart to form between them a space for the fluid to be heated, said external member being" formed with an internal diameter at one end greater than the maximum diameter of the threaded portion of the internal member, and the corresponding end portion of the internal member being provided with a flange adapted to bear endwise against the external member, and

the opposite end portion of said internal member being of a maximum diameter less than the minimum diameter of the threaded portion of the external member and formed with a reduced portion threaded at its outer and terminating! at its inner end in a shoulder, and the corresponding end portion of the external member being shaped to surround said reduced portion and to provide a seat for said shoulder, a nut threaded on said reduced portion and bearing against the external member, and separate means for clamping said flange in place against the external member.

10. A fluid heater comprising a pair of tubular elements arranged one Within the other and connected together at their ends but spaced apart between their ends to form a fluid receiving space, the external member being formed at its end With an external hollow boss which is open internally to said space and has a port formed in its Wall ex tending parallel to the axes of said elements.

LUTHER D. LOVEKIN. \Vitnesses:

ARNOLD I 1-\'1'Z, D. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O. 

